Bespoke Section 4L British citizenship application services
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A quick look
No. Government guidance states that to be registered, a person must be of full age and capacity, so they must be an adult.
No, registering as a British citizen does not have a residence requirement.
You should provide evidence of your own identity and relationship to your parents. Also, you should give proof of the historical unfairness, act of omission by public authorities, or the exceptional circumstances.
It covers rules and laws in the past that made it so people did not get citizenship due to their parents being unmarried, or where gender legislation has since made things equal such as how citizenship is passed on.
This is where a public authority such as the Home Office, other government body, or any whose job involves the public prevented you from getting citizenship by omitting information.
This does not include Members of Parliament or members of the House of Lords.
Section 4L
There are several ways that you can apply for British citizenship, with eligibility varying in how hard it is to get for each route. One of the lesser known routes is through Section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981. This was introduced by the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
Although there are many people who could benefit from Section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981, not many know about it.
Luckily, we are here to help you. Our team of UK immigration law experts can tell you all you need to know about this rarely discussed section of the rules, and guide you through the process of gaining citizenship.
What is Section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981?
Section 4L makes it so that people who would have been able to gain British citizenship in the past if it were not for certain reasons, can now apply for citizenship.
It was introduced as an amendment to the 1981 Act in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
The reasons for past rejections that the section amends are:
- Act or omission of a public authority
- Exceptional circumstances
- Historical legislative unfairness
Who can apply for citizenship under Section 4L?
Here is a brief overview of some of those who are eligible to register as a British citizen. It can be difficult to understand whether the situations outlined below apply to you. Please contact us if you need any assistance.
Act of omission of a public authority
An act of omission of a public authority covers mistakes made by the public authorities, such as the Home Office. If an individual would have been able to get citizenship if it were not for a mistake made by a public authority, they can apply for citizenship under Section 4L.
Historical legislative unfairness
This reason for now being able to apply for citizenship applies to all those who were previously rejected as a result of discrimination of what are now protected characteristics. For example, only those with a British mother could apply for citizenship in the past, but now citizenship can pass through the father.
Exceptional circumstances
Finally, there are exceptional circumstances which include any reasons that are not covered by the previous two.
An example of who this could apply to is someone who was adopted by British parents, but turned 18 during the process of adoption, which would prevent them from being a British citizen.
Ultimately, this situation is much more vague compared to the other two reasons, so it is more difficult to determine whether someone qualifies for citizenship through exceptional circumstances or not.
How caseworkers consider applications
As there are many ways someone can be eligible for registration as a British citizen under Section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981, all applications are considered on a case by case basis.
Whether an application is successful or not is down to the discretion of the caseworker based on the proof they have been provided with. As a result of this, applicants will need to provide as much information as possible to improve their chances of success.
Along with any evidence provided to caseworkers in support of the citizenship application, they will also be considering the good character of the applicant. This is a crucial part of the process that looks at any criminal history the applicant has, as well as any breaches of the immigration laws, dishonesty during the application process, their reputation in their local community, and any other factors that may be relevant.
Although there is not much an immigration specialist such as us can do regarding the good character requirement, we can assist you with the preparation of your evidence so that it meets the complex requirements set out in British Nationality Act 1981 Section 4L.
Why you should choose us
As we have previously mentioned, we have a team of immigration experts who are here to guide you through the complexities of Section 4L to improve your chances of a successful citizenship application.
Our team has years of experience in assisting people with UK immigration matters and have knowledge of many of the more complex rules that can be difficult for non-lawyers to understand. They will tailor their approach to your unique needs.
To begin using our bespoke services, you should contact us by phone, email, or website chatbot which will allow you to discuss your needs with our team. After this, you can book a longer paid consultation that will last either 30 minutes or an hour, during which you will be given legal advice and we will help you plan your next steps.
Your matter will be dealt with by one of our two helpful paralegals alongside our experienced Principal Solicitor, Nathan Woodcock. They will be there to answer all of your questions and support you through the process of applying for citizenship.
Get in touch with us today for our British citizenship expertise.
If you would like to learn more about the situations that allow you to register as a British citizen, as well as the good character requirement, then read our guide to getting British citizenship through Section 4L.
The information contained on this page is sourced from UK Visas and Immigration and is subject to change. While Woodcock Law Limited makes every effort to keep this information current, prices and information cannot be guaranteed and should always be checked on www.gov.uk.
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